Gas distribution system for effecting heat exchange

ABSTRACT

This disclosure provides a distribution system including a method and apparatus for effecting heat exchange between a gaseous medium and a charge of material. The charge of material is placed in a heat-exchange zone at a location which provides a circulation space around the entire charge. The supply of heatexchange gas medium is introduced into the gas circulation space at a location adjacent the charge. The gas medium is cycled in a continuous flow throughout the charge of material. A substantially uniform exchange effect is obtained by providing suitable supply and exhaust opening structures to effect equalization of the quantity of gas passing through and affected by the pressure drop in circulation spaces, turbulences, conversion of velocity pressure into static pressure, etc. The system of this disclosure includes an apparatus to effect the method of heat exchange. A specific embodiment of the apparatus includes adjustable structures which control the size of the openings for supplying and exhausting the gas medium.

U United States Patent 1 3,603,380

[72] Inventor Sebastien S. Corhanidis 3,261,650 7/1966 Stromquist 34/225 1 pp No 35:52 Athens lomcrme Primary ExaminerCharles Sukalo Filed June I969 Attorney-Markva, Smith & Kruger [45] Patented Sept. 7, 197B Priority June 1968 ABSTRACT: This disclosure provides a distribution system inl Gm eluding a method and apparatus for effecting heat exchange 37471 between a gaseous medium and a charge of material. The

charge of material is placed in a heat-exchange zone at a location which provides a circulation space around the entire 54 GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR EFFECTING T suPP'Y heatiexchange gas i HEAT EXCHANGE troduced into the gas circulation space at a location ad acent 40 Claims 17 Drawing Figs the charge. The gas medium 18 cycled m a continuous flow throughout the charge of material. A substantially uniform [52] US. Cl 165/2, exchange ff is Obtained by providing suitable Supply and 93/52 exhaust opening structures to effect equalization of the quan- [5 llll. s

ofgas passing through and affected he pressure drop in of Search circulation spaces turbulences conversion of velocity pres. 165/4144 2, 103; 34/212 1 2315;62/240 sure into static pressure, etc. The system of this disclosure ineludes an apparatus to effect the method of heat exchange. A [56] References cued specific embodiment of the apparatus includes adjustable UMTED STATES PATENTS structures which control the size of the openings for supplying 2,553,471 5/195] Protzeller l65/42 and exhausting the gas medium.

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l NVENTOR r SE ASTIEN S.CO, NIDIS ATTORNEYS GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR EFFECTING IIEAT EXCHANGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The storage and transportation of all types of products in volving either the cooling or heating of these products is extremely common today. When a load subjected to heat exchange conditions such as heating and cooling is extremely large, there is a problem of attaining a uniform heat-exchange effect throughout the entire load. The load itself may either be permeable or nonperrneable. The heat-exchange medium may pass around the various items in a permeable load. A nonperrneable load consists of solid packages which provide no channels for movement of heat exchange medium therethrough.

A gaseous heat-exchange medium is commonly used to effect either heating or cooling in the prior art. However, the biggest problem associated with this type of prior art heat exchange system is the attaining of a uniform distribution of the heat-exchange effect. Care must be taken in these prior art systems in that the portion of the load placed near the source of the heating or cooling medium may be affected to a much greater degree than the portion located further away from the same source. Several characteristics of gas distribution systems adversely affect the heat-exchange effect as the gaseous medium travels away from its source. These characteristics include pressure drops in large circulation systems, turbulences, conversion of velocity pressure into static pressure, etc.

These problems are greatly magnified where the load is extremely large. The storage or transportation of food products such as fruits, vegetables and meats which are packed in the standard containers available in the prior art involve extremely large loads. These standardized containers, which include boxes, trays and crates, may be stacked to provide a horizontal space between the upper surface of the stack and a heatexchange enclosure. The primary function of this prior art heat-exchange system generally is to cool or refrigerate the food products during storage or transportation thereof.

A special problem arises in the use of these standardized packages. The use of the enclosed boxes will provide a non permeable load while the use of the open-structured type of crates or trays may provide a permeable load. In other words, different gas-circulation conditions may arise within the insu- Iated enclosure. The prior art gas distribution systems are not capable of efficiently handling the different types of packaged products which must be subjected to refrigeration. There is a danger that a part of the load may freeze when the entire load is to be maintained at a very low temperature for the storage of fresh perishables.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the invention is to provide a distribution system capable of efiecting a substantially uniform heat exchange between a load and a gaseous heat-exchange medi- Another object of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages attendant prior art gas distribution systems.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gas distribu tion system which is readily adapted to either the heating or cooling of a load of material.

A further object of this invention is to provide a system having the capability of reaching a load temperature of approximately 32 F. for fresh perishables without the danger of freezing a portion of the load.

A still furtherobject of this invention is to provide a system which attains a i1 F., or even less, temperature variation throughout the entire load to establish a closely controlled temperature uniformity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system which attains the more rapid and uniform precooling of perishable food products than heretofore known.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a system having an apparatus which allows substantially percent use of the interior volume of an insulated enclosure used as a part of the system.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a system that is clearly adaptable to both permeable and nonpermcable loads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects and other advantages corresponding to the purpose of this invention are readily achieved by a gas dis tribution system developed in accordance with this invention. The distribution system of this invention includes the method of distributing gas for effecting heat exchange comprising the steps of (a) placing a charge of material into a heat-exchange zone; (b) providing a supply of heat-exchange gas medium; (c) introducing quantities of the :supply of heat-exchange gas medium forming a cyclic flow into the heat-exchange zone along two opposing sides of the charge at first and second cor responding edges thereof; (d) the quantities introduced along said first edge being larger than the quantities along said second edge, and (e) exhausting quantities of heat-exchange gas medium out of the heatexchange zone along said two opposing sides of the charge at third and fourth corresponding edges thereof; (f) the quantities exhausted along said third edge being larger than the quantities exhausted along said fourth corresponding edge; (g) said larger introduced quantities being on the same side of the charge as the smaller exhausted quantities and said larger exhausted quantities being on the same side of the charge as the smaller introduced quantities.

The gas distribution system of this invention provides an apparatus for effecting heat exchange between a gaseousmedium and a charge of material comprising (a) means forming a heat-exchange zone; (b) first inlet means located on a first side of the heat-exchange zone and second inlet means located on a second opposing side of said heat-exchange zone for providing an incoming flow of heat-exchange gas medium into the heat-exchange zone; (c) said first inlet means having a lower resistance to flow into the heat-exchange zone than said second inlet means, and (d) first exhaust means located on said first side of the heat-exchange zone and second exhaust means located on said second opposing side of the heatexchange zone for providing an outgoing flow of heatexchange gas medium from the heat exchange zone; (e) said second exhaust means having a lower resistance to flow from the heat-exchange zone than said first exhaust means.

A more specific feature of this invention includes the use of a false ceiling and a false floor used in conjunction with inlet and outlet openings located between false ceiling and floor structures and the sides of the insulated enclosure. The crosssectional area of these inlet and outlet openings vary in size along the length of the insulated enclosure. The determination of the size of the openings is a function of the amount of gas required at any location to present an equalized amount of gas into the heat-exchange zone.

The gas distribution system of this invention also may include means for regenerating the gaseous medium to proceed with either cooling or heating the products of the load in the insulated enclosure. Various types of inlet and outlet opening structures are included in the gas distribution system of this invention.

Another specific feature of this invention includes the combination of the gas distribution system and a vehicle for transporting goods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an apparatus for the gas distribution system made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 2 is a broken view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. I,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 4- 4 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a ceiling opening structure of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a floor-opening structure of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 7 is a view of a detail of a gas-supply duct turning vane used in an apparatus made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a typical prior art package which may be used in the system of this invention,

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention showing the, gas circulation within the apparatus when using packages having horizontal spaces therebetween,

FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing showing the gas flow in an apparatus made in accordance with this invention when loaded as shown in FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of an apparatus made in accordance with this invention showing gas circulation therein when said apparatus is loaded with solid packages providing a minimum of space therebetween,

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the circulation of gas within the apparatus of this invention when loaded as shown in FIG. 1 1

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional viewshowing a specific embodiment of an opening structure in an apparatus made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of another specific embodiment of an opening structure made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of a still further embodiment of an opening structure made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 16 is a partial longitudinal plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, and

FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view of the insulated enclosure showing a reversal of the supply of gas medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS More specifically, the insulated enclosure 1 is operably associated with a refrigeration coil 2 and air-circulating devices 3. the insulated enclosure 1 includes a ceiling member 5 forming an air plenum 6, and a floor member 16 forming a collector space 15. The air plenum 6 and collector space 15 constitute specific portions of a circulation space. The storage area or heat exchange zone (not numbered) is located between the ceiling member 5 and the floor member 16. The structure of the ceiling member 5 is in spaced relationship to the enclosure 1 to provide gas-inlet openings 7, 8 and 18 along the sidewalls of the insulated enclosure 1. The introduction of the gas medium is made through the ceiling openings 7, 8 and 18 into the storage area or heat-exchange zone (not numbered) of the insulated enclosure 1 where the load is placed. the ceiling openings 8 running along one side of the insulated enclosure 1 are always relatively larger than the ceiling openings 7 which are directly opposite thereto. The smaller ceiling openings 7 are located on the other side of the apparatus between the ceiling member 5 and the insulated enclosure 1. The volume of gas introduced in the plenum 6 will travel in the direction providing the least amount of resistance. Therefore, a greater volume of gas will pass through the larger ceiling openings 8 located along one side of the insulated enclosure 1.

Means are provided to form circulation spaces 9 and 10 along the length of each side of the enclosure 1. In this specific embodiment, these circulation spaces 9 and 10 are located between the vertical strips 12 which are integrally formed as a part of the insulated enclosure 1. The ceiling openings 7 and 8 form the inlet means into the passages between the adjacent vertical strips 12 for gas to move into the spaces 9 and 10. The spaces 9 and I0 constitute specific portions of a circulation space along with the air plenum 6 and the collector space l5. Therefore, as is apparent from the drawings, a circulation space surrounds the charge of material in the heat-exchange zone. The circulation space includes a supply portion, heatexchange zone portion and an exhaust portion. In this specific embodiment, the supply portion includes air plenum 6; the heat-exchange zone portions include circulation spaces 9 and 10; the exhaust portion includes collector space 15.

Another feature of this specific embodiment is that the ceiling openings 7 and 8 are of varying cross-sectional area along the enclosure in order to equalize the amounts of gas supplied to the load space or storage area. Although the loading end is shown as being solid in the drawings, it is deemed within the ordinary skill of the art to be able to place doors therein to effect loading of the refrigerated area within the insulated enclosure 1. The gas used in this specific embodiment is air. However, any other type of suitable gaseous medium may be adapted to the system of this invention. Some systems use liquified expendable nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air and other types of gases to produce refrigeration. Therefore, it is possible to use an expendable liquified gas-spray system in place of the refrigeration coil 2. The discharge airspace 11 at the loading end of the enclosure 1 provides an adequate resistance to airflow along the entire width of the ceiling member 5. The circulation arrows indicate the direction of flow of the gas medium throughout the entire system. The air progresses from the supply duct 4 located above the circulating fans 3 to the ceiling openings 7 and 8. The vertical strips 12 guide the cooling air downwardly along the sidewalls of the enclosure 1 at a practically uniform velocity that is determined in part by the size of the opening adjacent the vertical strips 12.

The floor member 16 shown in FIG. 3 ofthis specific embodiment forms floor openings 13 and 14 that become progressively larger in cross section in a direction away from the supply duct 4. The cooling air moves from the refrigerated load space and from along the sidewalls of the enclosure 1 between the vertical strips 12 into the portion of the circulation space below the floor member 16. In addition, the discharge floor openings 13 provide the least resistance to airflow through the load space. Therefore, the air runs transversely of the enclosure 1 as shown by the air-circulation arrows. A greater volume of air passes through the larger sized discharge floor openings 13 than the smaller discharge floor openings 14. The air then moves to a collector space 15 formed between the floor member 16 and the bottom of the insulated enclosure 1. The discharge floor opening 19 provides an area for movement of air circulation along the loading end of the enclosure 1 through the airspace ll.

Nozzle structures which form the ceiling openings 7 and discharge floor openings 13 are shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. Inlet ceiling opening 7 is formed by the nozzle member 7a which is tightly mounted to a ceiling member 7b. The rigid ceiling member 7b is attached to the enclosure 1 with a support structure 70. The direction and relative amount of airflow is shown by the arrows. An areuate guide member 7d is mounted in the comer of the enclosure 1 between the vertical strips 12. The guide member 7d facilitates the flow of air around the comer of the enclosure 1. The discharge floor opening 13 is formed by the nozzle member which is tightly mounted to the floor member 13b. The floor member 13b is mounted in spaced relationship with respect to the bottom of the enclosure 1 by the support members 130. The areuate guide member 13d operates in the same manner as the areuate guide member 7d.

The air is directed through the air-supply duct 4 with the circulating fans 3. The air moves upwardly from the collector space 15 and through the cooling coils 2 for refrigerated distribution to the products stored in the load space ofthe insulated enclosure ll. The air-supply duct 4 includes turning vanes 4a located along the top corner of the insulated enclosure 1. These vanes 4a facilitate movement of the air from the airsupply duct 4 located above the circulating fans 3 into the air plenum 6 located above the ceiling member 5.

The insulated enclosure 1 may be filled with either a permeable or nonpermeable load. A load is permeable if horizontal or vertical airspaces exist between the products or packages. That is, airspaces extend from one side of the load to the other. Solid packages which form substantially no horizontal or vertical airspaces therebetween constitute a nonpermeable load. Products placed in crates as shown in FIG. 8 provide for air movement directly through the refrigerated area as shown in FIG. 9. The larger inlet ceiling openings 8 cause the air circulation to take on the characteristics as illustrated in FIG. 10. That is, a large volume of the air proceeds upwardly through the vertical supply duct 4 and is then distributed within the air plenum 6 with the air moving in greater volume in those directions providing the least resistance to flow. A greater volume of air therefore moves through the inlet ceiling openings 8. The air moves downwardly along the open airspaces and in larger amounts passes transversely to the load as shown in FIG. 9 through the horizontal spaces existing between the stored packages. Smaller volumes of refrigerated air pass through the smaller inlet ceiling openings 7 and through the smaller discharge floor openings 14. All of the load placed in the enclosure 1 is subjected to an extremely uniform and homogeneous cooling treatment and therefore efficiency of the refrigeration of the product is extremely high.

When the enclosure 1 is packed with solid packages as shown in FIG. 11, the circulation paths of air are as shown in FIG. 12. Since airspaces do not exist between the packages, an equal distribution of cooling propensity is established around the entire load by carefully distributing volumes of cooled flowing air completely around the load. The size relationship between the inlet ceiling openings and outlet floor openings on each side of the enclosure ll provides the even distribution of cooling propensity which has proved through testing to be extremely more efficient and more effective than any of the air-circulation apparatus devices heretofore known in the prior art.

The larger inlet ceiling openings 8 and discharge floor openings 13 automatically provide the most efficient refrigeration of stored goods because of the resulting airflow involving the smaller ceiling openings 7 and floor openings 14. Such air distribution is more efficient regardless of whether the load is permeable or nonpermeable. The change in the size of the openings from the supply end of the enclosure 1 to the loading end of the enclosure 1 compensates for air-pressure gain or losses, turbulences, conversion of velocity pressure to static pressure, etc. occurring in the air plenum 6 and in the air collector region 15. A substantially even distribution of air is thereby provided over the entire length of the lateral walls of the enclosure 1.

Another feature of this invention overcomes the problem of air traveling between the top of the load and the ceiling member. Movement through this space would greatly reduce the efficiency of the system through loss of cooling propensity. A damper member located along the longitudinal axis of the enclosure 1 is movably mounted on the ceiling member 5. The damper member 20 may be made of either a flexible or a rigid material as desired. The damper member 20 impedes the transverse flow of air above the load. This forces the air to proceed in proper proportion through the discharge floor openings 13 and 14 as provided along the floor member 16. In addition, guidance is given to the flow of air along the loading end of the enclosure 1. A damper member 21 is movably mounted about its vertical axis on the loading end of the enclosure ll. The damper member 21 may be made of either flexible or rigid material as long as it is of sufficient stiffness to obstruct the air passage between the last row of packages and the loading end of the enclosure 1 in the airspace I1.

Since the structure of this air-distribution apparatus provides a symmetrical air circulation, the flow of air may be readily reversed as shown in FIG. 17. This specific variation in the operation of the device may be made without adversely affecting the uniform distribution of refrigeration throughout the insulated enclosure 1. Upon a reversal of the air supply, greater volumes of air would proceed through the floor openings 13 to the ceiling openings 8. That is, the function of the openings 7, 8, I3 and 14 would be specifically reversed from a discharge operation to an air-inlet operation and vice versa.

Several modifications may be made in the structures forming the ceiling openings 7 and 8 and floor openings 13 and 14. A first modification includes a ceiling member 5 having a continuous edge 22 forming a continuous gap with respect to the sidewall ofthe enclosure 1. The continuous gap runs the entire length of the enclosure 1 and varies in width. The vertical ribs 12 are shortened in this embodiment and stop immediately below the ceiling member 5.

Another embodiment includes a downwardly extending portion having an adjustable section. 23. The angle of inclination for the adjustable section 23 may be changed to any desired amount to control the amount of air passing between the section 23 and the sidewall of the enclosure 1. The conical shape of the section 23 reduces the resistance to the passage of air through the opening 8 in addition to determining the volume of flow.

Another embodiment contemplates the use of a downwardly extending portion 24 including slits 2S. Adjustable nozzle sections 26 are thereby formed along the entire length of the ceiling member 5. This specific embodiment provides for the independent adjustment of flow at each section 26 of the continuous downwardly directed portion 24 over the entire length of the insulated enclosure 1. The ribs or strips 12 are shortened to a length immediately below the continuous downwardly directed portion 24.

These specific modifications of nozzle arrangements may obviously be applied at any of the locations along the ceiling member 5 or floor member 16 to form the air flow passages.

ADVANTAGES OF THIS INVENTION The gas distribution system of this invention provides a propensity for uniform heat exchange throughout the entire insulated enclosure 1. The velocity of the air passing through the smaller openings of the same row must be greater than the velocity passing through the larger openings. The pressure variations which occur within the plenum 6 and the collector space 15 require varying velocities of gas to effect equalization throughout the load space. This method of gas distribution produces a substantially uniform temperature throughout the entire refrigerated load area. Variations in temperature have been determined to be over a. few tenths of degrees Centigrade throughout the entire refrigerated load area.

When using the prior art packaging containers such as shown in FIG. 8, the surface of the products is in direct contact with the gas circulating horizontally therebetween. This naturally provides a larger increase of heat-exchange surfaces for the packaged products. The prerefrigeration of these products may be substantially speeded up. In conventional gas circulation enclosures where the gas circulates vertically between the packages, the degree of efficiency for cooling the products contained in these packages is substantially lower than the efiiciency of the refrigerating process using the ap paratus of this invention. That is, there are very limited heatexchange surfaces present in the conventional prior art systems known heretofore. Even where there are large horizontal spaces existing between packages, conventional gas distribution systems do not direct the gaseous medium transversely to the load because of lack of pressure difference thereby reducing the heat-exchange propensity and efficiency of the systems.

Another advantage of the gas distribution system of this invention is the use of the entire load space from the floor to the ceiling. That is, the available volume within the insulated enclosure 1 is utilized to its fullest extent. Conventional prior art systems generally require that there be an empty space located between the top of the load and the ceiling of the insulated enclosure through which the gaseous medium may pass. The distribution of gas throughout the entire refrigerated enclosure 1 to attain a substantially uniform heat exchange is the most important aspect of this invention.

The distribution of gas provides such a uniform temperature that it is possible to lower the temperature of fresh products to substantially 32 F. without danger of actually freezing a portion of the product. In addition, the load may be refrigerated in a much shorter period of time due to the increased heatexchange surfaces and the increased quantity of gas coming into direct contact with the perishable products.

The variation of the cross-sectional area of the openings is dependent upon several factors which contribute to the variation in pressure. Such factors include the depth of the false ceiling and floor structures, size of the enclosure, type of gaseous medium, velocity of gas medium supply, etc.

While the gas distribution system for effecting heat 7 exchange has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, it is obvious that the entire system might be operated at any desired angle with respect to the vertical.

1 claim:

1. A method of distributing gas for effecting heat exchange comprising:

a. placing a charge of material into a heat-exchange zone,

b. providing a supply of heat-exchange gas medium,

c. introducing quantities of the supply of heat-exchange gas medium forming a cyclic flow into the heat-exchange zone along two opposing sides of the charge at first and second corresponding edges thereof,

d. the quantities introduced along said first edge being larger than the quantities along said second edge, and

e. exhausting quantities of heat-exchange gas medium out of the heat-exchange zone along said two opposing sides of the charge at third and fourth corresponding edges thereof,

f. the quantities exhausted along said third edge being larger than the quantities exhausted along said fourth corresponding edge,

g. said larger introduced quantities being on the same side of the charge as the smaller exhausted quantities and said larger exhausted quantities being on the same side of the charge as the smaller introduced quantities.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said charge of material is permeable to a flow of gas medium whereby quantities of heat-exchange medium introduced along said first edge of the charge move through the permeable charge and are exhausted along said third edge of the charge.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said charge of material is impermeable to a flow of gas medium thereby preventing movement of heat-exchange medium through the charge and said flow of heat-exchange medium moves from the first inlet edge to the fourth exhaust edge and from the second inlet edge to the third exhaust edge.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said heat-exchange gas medium is a refrigerant.

5. The method of distributing heat-exchange gas medium around a charge of material located in a heat-exchange zone comprising the steps of:

a. providing a circulation space above, below and on at least two opposing sides of the charge of material,

b. introducing a supply of heat-exchange gas medium into the gas circulation space above the charge,

c. directing a cyclic flow of quantities of gas medium into the heat-exchange zone,

d. quantities being directed from the portion of the circulation space above the charge and introduced downwardly along opposing sides of the charge,

e. the quantities of gas being introduced downwardly from the circulation space along a first inlet side of the heatexchange zone are larger than the quantities of gas medium being introduced downwardly from the circulation space above the charge along a second inlet side, and

. quantities of said gas medium being directed from along said opposing sides of the heat-exchange zone and exhausted into a portion of the circulation space below the charge of material,

g. the quantities of gas medium being exhausted along the first exhaust side of the heat-exchange zone are larger than the quantities of gas being exhausted along a second exhaust side,

h. said first inlet side being located diagonally with respect to said first exhaust side across said heat-exchange zone.

6. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said charge of material is permeable to a flow of gas medium whereby quantities of heat-exchange medium introduced along said first inlet side of the charge move through the permeable charge and are exhausted along said first exhaust side of the charge.

7. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said charge of material is impermeable to a flow of gas medium thereby preventing movement of heat-exchange medium through the charge and said flow of heat-exchange medium moves along the opposing sides of the charge forming a jacket therearound.

8. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said heat-exchange gas medium is a refrigerant.

9. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said supply introduction step includes the steps of recycling heat-exchange medium from the circulation space below the charge to the circulation space located above the charge and regenerating the gas medium during the recycling step.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said regenerating step includes cooling the gas medium before supplying it to said gas-circulation space above the charge.

1 l. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said regenerating step includes heating the gas medium before supplying it to said circulation space above the charge.

12. The method of distributing gas for effecting heatexchange comprising:

a. placing a charge of material into a heat-exchange zone,

b. providing a circulation space including a supply portion, heat-exchange zone portions disposed on opposing sides of the heat-exchange zone and an exhaust portion,

c. introducing a supply of heat-exchange gas medium into said supply portion of said space,

d. directing quantities of the heat-exchange gas medium in a cyclic flow from the supply portion to the heat-exchange zone portions disposed along the sides of the charge and from said heat-exchange zone portions to the exhaust portion,

e. the quantities of gas medium introduced from the supply portion along a first inlet side of the heat-exchange zone are larger than the quantities of gas medium introduced from the supply portion along a second inlet side of the heat-exchange zone, and

. the quantities of gas medium exhausted along a first exhaust side of the heat-exchange zone being larger than the quantities of the gas exhausted along a second exhaust side of the heat-exchange zone,

g. said first inlet side being located diagonally across said heat-exchange zone with respect to said first exhaust side.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said charge of material is permeable to a flow of gas medium whereby said cyclic flow of gas is directed through the permeable charge and is exhausted into the exhaust portion on a side opposite to where it was introduced.

14. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said charge of material is impermeable to a flow of gas medium thereby preventing movement of heat-exchange medium through the charge and said cyclic flow of heat-exchange medium moves around said impermeable charge of material.

15. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein the supply portion of the circulation space is located above the charge of material,

the heat-exchange portions are located along vertical sides of the charge, and

the exhaust portion is located below the charge of material.

16. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said heat-exchange gas medium is a refrigerant.

17. An apparatus for effecting heat exchange between a gas medium and a charge of material comprising:

a. means forming a heat-exchange zone,

b. first inlet means located on a first side of the heatexchange zone and second inlet means located on a second opposing side of said heat-exchange zone for providing an incoming flow of heat-exchange gas medium into the heat-exchange zone,

c. said first inlet means having a lower resistance to flow into the heat-exchange zone than said second inlet means, and

d. first exhaust means located on said first side of the heatexchange zone and second exh aust means located on said second opposing side of the heat-exchange zone for providing an outgoing flow of heat-exchange gas medium from the heat-exchange zone,

e. said second exhaust means having a lower resistance to flow from the heat-exchange zone than said first exhaust means.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure and means for supporting said charge of material within said heat-exchange zone.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure and ceiling means located in spaced relationship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween and a means is provided to supply gas medium into the space between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure,

said first and second inlet means being located along opposing sides of said ceiling means.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein the first and second inlet means includes openings located along the sides of the insulated enclosure,

said inlet openings having varying size of cross-sectional area along the length of the sides of the insulated enclosure.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said first and second inlet means includes openings located along the ceiling means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure,

said inlet openings along a first ceiling side of said insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the inlet openings located along the oppositely disposed second ceiling side of said insulated enclosure.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said first and second inlet means includes openings located along the ceiling means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure,

said inlet openings including a plurality of divider members to form various sized inlet-opening sections along the length of first and second sides of the insulated enclosure,

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure and means for supporting the charge of material in spaced relationship from the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween,

said first and second exhaust means being located along o posing sides of said charge supporting means.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said first and second exhaust means includes openings located along the charge-supporting means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure,

said exhaust openings having a varying size of cross-sectional area along the length of the side of the insulated enclosure.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said exhaust openings include a plurality of divider mem bers to form various sized opening sections along the length of the first and second opposing sides of the insulated enclosure.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said first and second exhaust means includes openings located along the charge-supporting means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure,

said exhaust openings along a first side of said insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the exhaust openings located along an oppositely disposed second side of said insulated enclosure.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone-forming means includes an insulated enclosure and means for maintaining a flow space between the charge of material and said opposing sides of the enclosure.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure, ceiling means located in spaced relationship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, and

means for supporting the charge of material in spaced relationship from the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween,

means is provided to supply gas medium into the space between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure,

said first and second inlet means being located along opposing sides of said ceiling means, and

said first and second exhaust means being located along opposing sides of said charge-supporting means.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said first and second inlet means includes openings located along the ceiling means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure,

said inlet openings located along a first side of the insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the inlet openings located along the second opposed side of the insulated enclosure,

said first and second exhaust means includes openings located along the charge-supporting means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure,

said exhaust openings along a first side of said insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the exhaust openings located along a second opposed side of said insulated enclosure,

said larger inlet openings being located on a side of said enclosure across the heat-exchange zone diagonally opposite to said larger exhaust openings.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said insulated enclosure includes means to mount said insulated enclosure onto a vehicle.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said gas-medium supply means includes an inlet-means supply opening and a gas-medium blower means,

said inlet means supply opening being located above said gas-medium blower means to introduce heat-exchange gas medium into the circulation space above the charge of material and located between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said gas-medium supply means includes means to regenerate the gas medium before recycling same into said heat-exchange zone.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein said regenerating means includes gas-medium cooling means.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein said regenerating means includes gas-medium heating means.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone-forming means includes an insulated enclosure, ceiling means located in spaced relationship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween and a first damper means extending between said ceiling means and the top of the charge to substantially prevent the gas medium from passing transversely across the heat-exchange zone between the top of the charge and the ceiling means.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone-forming means includes an insulated enclosure, ceiling means located in spaced relationship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, first and second damper means, and

a means is provided to supply gas medium into the space between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure along a supply side of the enclosure,

said first damper means extending between said ceiling means and the top of said charge to substantially prevent the gas medium from passing transversely across the heatexchange zone between the top of the charge and the ceiling means,

said second damper means extending between the end of the enclosure opposite the supply side of the enclosure and the side of the charge of material to substantially prevent transverse movement of said gas medium between the end of the charge and said end of the enclosure,

said first and second inlet means being located along said opposing sides of the ceiling means.

37. In a vehicle for transporting goods, a gas distribution system for providing a heat-exchange effect between a gaseous medium and a charge of material comprising:

a. means forming a heat-exchange zone,

b. first inlet means located on a first side of the heatexchange zone and second inlet means located on a second opposing side of said heat-exchange zone for providing an incoming flow of heat exchange gas medium into the heat-exchange zone,

c. said first inlet means having a lower resistance to flow into the heat-exchange zone than said second inlet means, and

d. first exhaust means located on said first side of a heatexchange zone and second exhaust means located on said second opposing side of 'the heat-exchange zone for providing an outgoing flow of heat-exchange gas medium from the heat-exchange zone,

c. said second exhaust means having a lower resistance to flow from the heat-exchange zone than said first exhaust means.

38. In a vehicle as defined in claim 37 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure and means for supporting said charge of material within said heat-exchange zone.

39. In a vehicle as definedin claim 37 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure, ceiling means located in spaced relationship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, and means for supporting the charge of material in spaced relationship from the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, and

a means is provided to supply gas medium into the space between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure, said first and second inlet means being located along opposing sides of said ceiling means,

said first and second exhaust means being located along opposing sides of said charge-supporting means.

40. In a vehicle as defined in claim 39 wherein said first and second inlet means includes openings located along the ceiling means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure,

said inlet openings located along a first side of the insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the inlet openings located along the second opposed side of the insulated enclosure,

said first and second exhaust means includes openings located along the charge-supporting means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure,

said exhaust openings along a first side of said insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the exhaust openings located along a second opposed side of said insulated enclosure,

said larger inlet openings being located on the side of said enclosure across the heat-exchange zone diagonally opposite to said larger exhaust openings. 

1. A method of distributing gas for effecting heat exchange comprising: a. placing a charge of material into a heat-exchange zone, b. providing a supply of heat-exchange gas medium, c. introducing quantities of the supply of heat-exchange gas medium forming a cyclic flow into the heat-exchange zone along tWo opposing sides of the charge at first and second corresponding edges thereof, d. the quantities introduced along said first edge being larger than the quantities along said second edge, and e. exhausting quantities of heat-exchange gas medium out of the heat-exchange zone along said two opposing sides of the charge at third and fourth corresponding edges thereof, f. the quantities exhausted along said third edge being larger than the quantities exhausted along said fourth corresponding edge, g. said larger introduced quantities being on the same side of the charge as the smaller exhausted quantities and said larger exhausted quantities being on the same side of the charge as the smaller introduced quantities.
 2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said charge of material is permeable to a flow of gas medium whereby quantities of heat-exchange medium introduced along said first edge of the charge move through the permeable charge and are exhausted along said third edge of the charge.
 3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said charge of material is impermeable to a flow of gas medium thereby preventing movement of heat-exchange medium through the charge and said flow of heat-exchange medium moves from the first inlet edge to the fourth exhaust edge and from the second inlet edge to the third exhaust edge.
 4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said heat-exchange gas medium is a refrigerant.
 5. The method of distributing heat-exchange gas medium around a charge of material located in a heat-exchange zone comprising the steps of: a. providing a circulation space above, below and on at least two opposing sides of the charge of material, b. introducing a supply of heat-exchange gas medium into the gas circulation space above the charge, c. directing a cyclic flow of quantities of gas medium into the heat-exchange zone, d. quantities being directed from the portion of the circulation space above the charge and introduced downwardly along opposing sides of the charge, e. the quantities of gas being introduced downwardly from the circulation space along a first inlet side of the heat-exchange zone are larger than the quantities of gas medium being introduced downwardly from the circulation space above the charge along a second inlet side, and f. quantities of said gas medium being directed from along said opposing sides of the heat-exchange zone and exhausted into a portion of the circulation space below the charge of material, g. the quantities of gas medium being exhausted along the first exhaust side of the heat-exchange zone are larger than the quantities of gas being exhausted along a second exhaust side, h. said first inlet side being located diagonally with respect to said first exhaust side across said heat-exchange zone.
 6. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said charge of material is permeable to a flow of gas medium whereby quantities of heat-exchange medium introduced along said first inlet side of the charge move through the permeable charge and are exhausted along said first exhaust side of the charge.
 7. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said charge of material is impermeable to a flow of gas medium thereby preventing movement of heat-exchange medium through the charge and said flow of heat-exchange medium moves along the opposing sides of the charge forming a jacket therearound.
 8. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said heat-exchange gas medium is a refrigerant.
 9. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said supply introduction step includes the steps of recycling heat-exchange medium from the circulation space below the charge to the circulation space located above the charge and regenerating the gas medium during the recycling step.
 10. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said regenerating step includes cooling the gas medium before supplying it to said gas-circulation space above the cHarge.
 11. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said regenerating step includes heating the gas medium before supplying it to said circulation space above the charge.
 12. The method of distributing gas for effecting heat-exchange comprising: a. placing a charge of material into a heat-exchange zone, b. providing a circulation space including a supply portion, heat-exchange zone portions disposed on opposing sides of the heat-exchange zone and an exhaust portion, c. introducing a supply of heat-exchange gas medium into said supply portion of said space, d. directing quantities of the heat-exchange gas medium in a cyclic flow from the supply portion to the heat-exchange zone portions disposed along the sides of the charge and from said heat-exchange zone portions to the exhaust portion, e. the quantities of gas medium introduced from the supply portion along a first inlet side of the heat-exchange zone are larger than the quantities of gas medium introduced from the supply portion along a second inlet side of the heat-exchange zone, and f. the quantities of gas medium exhausted along a first exhaust side of the heat-exchange zone being larger than the quantities of the gas exhausted along a second exhaust side of the heat-exchange zone, g. said first inlet side being located diagonally across said heat-exchange zone with respect to said first exhaust side.
 13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said charge of material is permeable to a flow of gas medium whereby said cyclic flow of gas is directed through the permeable charge and is exhausted into the exhaust portion on a side opposite to where it was introduced.
 14. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said charge of material is impermeable to a flow of gas medium thereby preventing movement of heat-exchange medium through the charge and said cyclic flow of heat-exchange medium moves around said impermeable charge of material.
 15. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein the supply portion of the circulation space is located above the charge of material, the heat-exchange portions are located along vertical sides of the charge, and the exhaust portion is located below the charge of material.
 16. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said heat-exchange gas medium is a refrigerant.
 17. An apparatus for effecting heat exchange between a gas medium and a charge of material comprising: a. means forming a heat-exchange zone, b. first inlet means located on a first side of the heat-exchange zone and second inlet means located on a second opposing side of said heat-exchange zone for providing an incoming flow of heat-exchange gas medium into the heat-exchange zone, c. said first inlet means having a lower resistance to flow into the heat-exchange zone than said second inlet means, and d. first exhaust means located on said first side of the heat-exchange zone and second exhaust means located on said second opposing side of the heat-exchange zone for providing an outgoing flow of heat-exchange gas medium from the heat-exchange zone, e. said second exhaust means having a lower resistance to flow from the heat-exchange zone than said first exhaust means.
 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure and means for supporting said charge of material within said heat-exchange zone.
 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure and ceiling means located in spaced relationship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween and a means is provided to supply gas medium into the space between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure, said first and second inlet means being located along opposing sides of said ceiling means.
 20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein the first and second Inlet means includes openings located along the sides of the insulated enclosure, said inlet openings having varying size of cross-sectional area along the length of the sides of the insulated enclosure.
 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said first and second inlet means includes openings located along the ceiling means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure, said inlet openings along a first ceiling side of said insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the inlet openings located along the oppositely disposed second ceiling side of said insulated enclosure.
 22. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said first and second inlet means includes openings located along the ceiling means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure, said inlet openings including a plurality of divider members to form various sized inlet-opening sections along the length of first and second sides of the insulated enclosure,
 23. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure and means for supporting the charge of material in spaced relationship from the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, said first and second exhaust means being located along opposing sides of said charge supporting means.
 24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said first and second exhaust means includes openings located along the charge-supporting means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure, said exhaust openings having a varying size of cross-sectional area along the length of the side of the insulated enclosure.
 25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said exhaust openings include a plurality of divider members to form various sized opening sections along the length of the first and second opposing sides of the insulated enclosure.
 26. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said first and second exhaust means includes openings located along the charge-supporting means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure, said exhaust openings along a first side of said insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the exhaust openings located along an oppositely disposed second side of said insulated enclosure.
 27. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone-forming means includes an insulated enclosure and means for maintaining a flow space between the charge of material and said opposing sides of the enclosure.
 28. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure, ceiling means located in spaced relationship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, and means for supporting the charge of material in spaced relationship from the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, means is provided to supply gas medium into the space between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure, said first and second inlet means being located along opposing sides of said ceiling means, and said first and second exhaust means being located along opposing sides of said charge-supporting means.
 29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said first and second inlet means includes openings located along the ceiling means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure, said inlet openings located along a first side of the insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the inlet openings located along the second opposed side of the insulated enclosure, said first and second exhaust means includes openings located along the charge-supporting means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure, said exhaust openings along a first side of said insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the exhaust openings located along a second opPosed side of said insulated enclosure, said larger inlet openings being located on a side of said enclosure across the heat-exchange zone diagonally opposite to said larger exhaust openings.
 30. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said insulated enclosure includes means to mount said insulated enclosure onto a vehicle.
 31. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said gas-medium supply means includes an inlet-means supply opening and a gas-medium blower means, said inlet means supply opening being located above said gas-medium blower means to introduce heat-exchange gas medium into the circulation space above the charge of material and located between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure.
 32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said gas-medium supply means includes means to regenerate the gas medium before recycling same into said heat-exchange zone.
 33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein said regenerating means includes gas-medium cooling means.
 34. An apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein said regenerating means includes gas-medium heating means.
 35. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone-forming means includes an insulated enclosure, ceiling means located in spaced relationship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween and a first damper means extending between said ceiling means and the top of the charge to substantially prevent the gas medium from passing transversely across the heat-exchange zone between the top of the charge and the ceiling means.
 36. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said heat-exchange zone-forming means includes an insulated enclosure, ceiling means located in spaced relationship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, first and second damper means, and a means is provided to supply gas medium into the space between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure along a supply side of the enclosure, said first damper means extending between said ceiling means and the top of said charge to substantially prevent the gas medium from passing transversely across the heat-exchange zone between the top of the charge and the ceiling means, said second damper means extending between the end of the enclosure opposite the supply side of the enclosure and the side of the charge of material to substantially prevent transverse movement of said gas medium between the end of the charge and said end of the enclosure, said first and second inlet means being located along said opposing sides of the ceiling means.
 37. In a vehicle for transporting goods, a gas distribution system for providing a heat-exchange effect between a gaseous medium and a charge of material comprising: a. means forming a heat-exchange zone, b. first inlet means located on a first side of the heat-exchange zone and second inlet means located on a second opposing side of said heat-exchange zone for providing an incoming flow of heat exchange gas medium into the heat-exchange zone, c. said first inlet means having a lower resistance to flow into the heat-exchange zone than said second inlet means, and d. first exhaust means located on said first side of a heat-exchange zone and second exhaust means located on said second opposing side of the heat-exchange zone for providing an outgoing flow of heat-exchange gas medium from the heat-exchange zone, e. said second exhaust means having a lower resistance to flow from the heat-exchange zone than said first exhaust means.
 38. In a vehicle as defined in claim 37 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure and means for supporting said charge of material within said heat-exchange zone.
 39. In a vehicle as defined in claim 37 wherein said heat-exchange zone forming means includes an insulated enclosure, ceiling means located in spaced relAtionship from the top of the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, and means for supporting the charge of material in spaced relationship from the insulated enclosure forming a circulation space therebetween, and a means is provided to supply gas medium into the space between the ceiling means and the insulated enclosure, said first and second inlet means being located along opposing sides of said ceiling means, said first and second exhaust means being located along opposing sides of said charge-supporting means.
 40. In a vehicle as defined in claim 39 wherein said first and second inlet means includes openings located along the ceiling means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure, said inlet openings located along a first side of the insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the inlet openings located along the second opposed side of the insulated enclosure, said first and second exhaust means includes openings located along the charge-supporting means on opposing sides of the insulated enclosure, said exhaust openings along a first side of said insulated enclosure having a greater size in cross-sectional area than the exhaust openings located along a second opposed side of said insulated enclosure, said larger inlet openings being located on the side of said enclosure across the heat-exchange zone diagonally opposite to said larger exhaust openings. 